Ask any footballer ‘Where do you most enjoying playing?’ and they probably would have a definitive answer to give you.
Players specialise, they score goals, they make big tackles, they cross a ball with pinpoint accuracy. However, Alexis Mac Allister has long been a player who defies any sort of defined traditional role. By the end of last season this frustrated Liverpool fans – now, however, the tides are turning.
“What I want is always to be close to the ball. That’s my idea.” said the Argentinian when asked that question in a recent Sky Sports interview.
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What Mac Allister Wants to Do
“I like to help the team in that aspect. Control the game, be in possession, I think it’s important in a team that’s still in transition.” The midfielder continued, “We used to be quite direct before but now we are trying to be more patient.”
A piece written for Anfield Watch by Sam McGuire detailed how Mac Allister’s game had changed right at the very start of the season. In it, Mac Allister is designated a ‘facilitator’ rather than the dictator of play role he occupied last season.
What is becoming increasingly clear, however, is that Alexis Mac Allister is the perfect player for Arne Slot’s system.
“In terms of position I’d say 8, double-6, 10, I can play it and it’s not a problem.” Mac Allister said candidly about his preferences. Whilst his versatility is an admirable trait for a footballer, it does somewhat speak to why fans were unsure of the position he should be playing.
Coming into the year, Liverpool’s current starting midfield three had different roles. Mac Allister sat that bit deeper to dictate, Dominik Szoboszlai played an advanced 8 role to try and create chances and funnel the ball wide, and Ryan Gravenberch was competing for game time as a typical centre midfielder.
Now, Gravenberch anchors the team in a deeper role, Szoboszlai plays in a more advanced role further to the right, and Alexis Mac Allister occupies the middle-left on either side of the halfway line. What is most impressive about his game, however, is how his defensive abilities have changed.
How Mac Allister is Perfect for Slot
“I can be quite good in duels, it’s something that I’ve been working on” he says in the interview, “I think I’ve improved a lot in defence, my defensive side during the last couple of years so I feel comfortable and yeah if I have to do it for the team I’d be happy.”
Mac Allister currently ranks joint-2nd in the entire Premier League for tackles won this season, and joint 3rd for dribblers tackled. He’s averaging 3.19 tackles per-90 and it is this transformation that has been perfect for Arne Slot’s system.
Slot’s system of aggressive counter pressing immediately after losing the ball has ensured that Liverpool concede few chances and even fewer goals, whilst allowing their full backs and their midfielders to play high up the pitch. By adding a league-best ability to win these duels, as he stated, it means that Liverpool have a consistent additional barrier to their defence and more instances of being able to exploit their own attacking transitions than before, which is exactly what Arne Slot wants his men to do.
He – and all of us – are lucky that Alexis Mac Allister is there to do it.
